As it stands, the role of 3D printing in today’s steel market is still quite small, but it’s growing faster than anticipated. It’s expected to be worth as much as $10 billion by 2035, which is no surprise considering a select number of aerospace and healthcare companies have already adopted the innovative technology.

A number of outrageously inventive 3D metal designs have been produced by the automotive and construction industry.

Photo: Marc Steinmetz

Bugatti develops 3D printed titanium brake caliper

Bugatti car developers have reached a new position as a pioneer for technical developments after they succeeded in creating a new eight-piston monobloc brake caliper. It’s the largest titanium functional component ever developed by 3D metal printing and across the entire automotive industry. Created in collaboration with Hamburg-based laser zentrum nord, the brake calliper is set to become a new addition to Bugatti models after extensive vehicle trials.

“Vehicle development is a never-ending process. This is particularly true at Bugatti,” says Frank Götzke, Head of New Technologies in the Technical Development Department of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. He added on the achievement, “in our continuing development efforts, we are always considering how new materials and processes can be used to make our current model even better and how future vehicles of our brand could be designed.”

Photo: Marc Steinmetz

Fully functional 3D printed steel bridge in the works

Robotics start-up, MX3D, is in the midst of printing a steel bridge with the goal for it to cross one of the most renowned canals in Amsterdam, the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. It’s not the only 3D steel bridge they’re attempting either. The team with the dream are also printing a 12-metre-long stainless steel pedestrian smart bridge.

Using a sensor network, the team will collect data for structural measurements, such as strain, displacement and vibration, as well as air quality and temperature to determine how the bridge will hold up over its lifetime. The data collected in real-time and be input into a digital twin model that will provide valuable insights into improving the structural elements of future 3D printed metal designs and offer predictive maintenance checks on the current bridge. You can expect to see the 3D bridge in action by late 2018.